Realization

My journey after that was no longer as exciting as I hoped it would be. The things that happened reminded me of how repetitive the world can really be. What is done today will always be repeated by future generations, although I am not in Africa right now doesn't mean that what transpired is not the same there.

My mind is in a jumble, I have nothing that excites me anymore. The city of Melos and its bustling crowd don't entice me to explore it anymore. I just stay at the spot I was when I shot that arrow, and meditate.

After 12 days of staring into the sky for so long, I went to the rocky areas and carved out a big slab of rock from it. Looking at the slab that is 8ft tall, I begin to remember all the stories that were told in my old life. Movies about gods, demons, heroes, villains, angels, and warriors. The majority of them are men, with a few females mixed in.

My heroes were always those that stood up for what they believed in and fought for it. They had principles that guided them in life and shaped their destiny. They had a purpose to live for, be it family, desire for strength, vengeance, protection, or duty, they always had one.

'What is my purpose, why do I train so much, what am I trying to achieve, am I simply following the rest of the Spartans in saying for our land?'

These questions began to foster in my mind, along with the memories of my old country and the constant greed for power at the expense of others. I who have been put into a new world, will I really leave it the same as I met it?

Images of all the actors that played these roles started to go through my mind. Arnold, Stallone, Bruce, Bayle, Gadot, Lee, Cavill, Noah, Butler, and finally my father of the old world. A man that stands above all, one that sees beyond the mundane, cares not for affiliation or gender, only seeks the best that can be seen.

I see what I will only describe as more than a man. I grab my glaive and start swinging it at the slab I just dug up. Swinging and shaving off pieces of rock from the slab, slowly bringing the picture of perfection that I see.

None can stand before him without feeling small, none can stand before him yet lie, none can stand before him yet take what is not given, and all those who stand before him say what can I do to be like him.

For 12 days and nights, I stand there carving away without noticing the passage of time. Unknown to me, the energy left for growth in my body begins to rush to my brain. My thoughts getting deeper and ideas come popping in and leaving. On the 13th day, I came back to my senses, and upon this statue, I look.

A being standing with the world in his palm, hands stretch out from the world towards him, yet he looks pasts those hands into the unknown. His other hand holding a book, its contents only known to him. Upon his back, a myriad of weapons, one for every situation. Finally, upon his chest the number 001.

I sit down and look at this sculpture that I have made, and the only thing I can say that makes me sad is that there shall never be a being like this among the race called humans. We want much but give very little in return, we take and take, yet are never satisfied, and yes we, for I count myself among these people.

I ask myself why is it that the merit of a person isn't the baseline of their success. Very well, Sparta shall be the first.

'I will spur an empire so strong that it shall last for a million years. It shall stand upon the merits of its people, and never give what is not earned.' Conviction washed over me as I say these words, and a clear path ahead begins to take shape for me.

Those were the words that spurned the great Spartan civilization, one that entered the galaxy with warriors strong and dedicated and ruled countless planets. Never forgetting its founding principle 'What is gotten must be earned'.

My mind now clear and with purpose, I stood up from my seat and went into the town of Melos. Enjoying the sights, purchasing clothes from distant places and seeing many more oddities. My stay in Melos is to be one of relaxation, letting my mind and body pass away all the stress that I have carried without direction.

Meanwhile back at Sparta.

"Leonidas, you are not allowed to breath for the duration of the fight,"

"What! How can you even call that a fighting handicap, every thrust, slash, or bash must be followed by a breath for the next action," Leonidas said in shock at the conditions given to him.

"That is your problem, not mine, or are you going to forfeit this bout," his opponent commented

"No. then you must fight standing on only one leg,"

"Daedalus, you think you can get the best of me, let's see you try," Leonidas concludes

"FIGHT" a shout came from the side

Leonidas and Daedalus started their bout, which garner the laughter of those that around them. They looked comical, as Daedalus tries to move forward with his usual style, stumbling. Leonidas having a better time but is still uncomfortable swinging his sword with his lunges full.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING," a shout came from the entrance of the yard as five men walked in

"DO YOU THINK THIS IS A PLACE TO PLAY," turning around to see who is shouting, the group instantly stood up and straightened themselves.

"My king" X10

"When did our warriors of Sparta begin to treat this training ground as a place to play?" said the king, disappointed in the display of his son.

"We are not playing my king. We are testing the limits of what can stop us from battle." Said Daedalus.

"Oh … I would like to see this training you speak of. Percilus if you will join these young ones and test out this training." Said the king.

The phrase 'it was at this moment they knew the f*ck up', comes to mind if you look at their faces. The result well, Percilus refuses to pull his punches even with his son, so how do you think it went for these 10 young men.